'Serendipity' has left Tompkins Square Park

[File photo via EV Grieve]

EVG note: We accidentally posted the draft version of this earlier! Which made no sense! Oops!

"Serendipity,", the life-sized sculpture of Christopher Gamble's silhouette arrived in Tompkins Square Park last June.

Fanny Allié's creation was expected to be in the Park through November... then she received an extension through April 25.

On Saturday morning, Allié removed "Serendipity."


[Photo Saturday by Bobby Williams]

"I wish it could have stayed in the Park," she told us.

In June, the piece will head to Miami for a stay in the summer house of a current East Village resident.

The silhouette is in honor of Gamble, a former Park regular who was homeless for nearly 28 years. Gamble now lives in an apartment run by the Bowery Residents' Committee.


[Last June]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The street-smart style of Serendipity in Tompkins Square Park

Serendipity to remain in Tompkins Square Park through April

Filmmakers will recreate the Tompkins Square Park Riot of 1988 this Thursday night

[Photo by Dave on 7th]

The low-budget adaption of the Eleanor Henderson novel "Ten Thousand Saints" started principal photography in the East Village back in January. To date, the filmmakers have turned part of First Avenue into Avenue D and recreated part of tent city in Tompkins Square Park to tell this straight-edge coming-of-age story set in the 1980s East Village.

Now, on Thursday, crews will be filming scenes depicting the Tompkins Square Park Riots of 1988… these carefully worded letters recently arrived on East Seventh Street and around the Park …



Crews will be filming from roughly 2 p.m. … till 3 a.m. Per the sign: "Given the sensitivity of filming late hours in a residential community, we are making our best efforts to film quietly after 10 p.m on Thursday, May 1 into Friday May 2."

Wow, a quiet riot. (Sorry.)

The husband-wife team of Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini direct. They directed the 2003 Harvey Pekar film "American Splendor" with Paul Giamatti.

More about the closure of Kim's: 'We are NOT closing because record stores are dying'

[Photo from last Monday by Williams Klayer]

As we first reported last Monday, Kim's Video and Music is closing soon at 124 First Ave. The following email went out this past weekend to the Kim's faithful…

If you haven't heard already, earlier this week we announced that Kim's Video & Music, here on 1st Ave, will be closing its doors this July. Business here has been steady and our Record Store Day last Saturday was easily the best yet with new and old customers flooding the store for 200+ exclusive releases. The point is, and you should be aware, that we are NOT closing because record stores are dying, business is bad, it's not like it used to be and oh terrible world. Not at all. The actual reason for our closing is that the lease is up in July and the rent is being raised to an amount we simply can't work with. It's an unfortunate situation and we really, really appreciate all the positive vibes and eulogizing that has been sent our way this week. We are hopeful that a new Kim's can be erected this summer, (likely at a smaller location), and we are in the process of exploring that possibility. Until then, please stop in at 124 1st Ave (between St. Marks/7th) to say hi and take advantage of our closing sale. ALL Music & Video is 30% off.

This will be the last New Music Newsletter until the foreseeable future. Kim's WILL be stocking New Releases as they come out until we close ... Other than that, thank you for your continuing support and business over the years and hopefully we'll see you at a new (and improved) Kim's later this year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] A really bad sign outside Kim's Video & Music on First Avenue (31 comments)

Source: Kim's staff looking for ways to save their store

Work on Educational Alliance extension, the former 'mosquito hazard,' resumes on Avenue D

[July 2012]

Back in the summer of 2012, the Orchard Alley community garden on East Fourth Street closed due to a "mosquito hazard" coming from the long-stalled site at 27 Avenue D, where the Educational Alliance planned to add an extension to their existing building. (NY1 covered the story here.)

There's plenty of progress to report here now … as the city has signed off on all the necessary permits.



The work continues…





The rendering on the plywood shows a building looking like…



… this.



After digging the foundation for the extension, the site sat dormant, collecting water and reportedly breeding mosquitos, dating back to 2008.

The Educational Alliance location at 25 Avenue D is a co-ed facility "for adults struggling with chemical dependencies." The extension will reportedly offer housing for its residents. DOB permits put the cost estimate for the new building at $4.9 million.

Here comes the protected 4th Avenue bike lane

On Friday, workers started putting down the green for the new protected bike lane…



… that will stretch from Lafayette and Prince Street up Fourth Avenue to East 12th Street.

And here is a look at the lane on Lafayette at Bond…



The new bike path will not remove any car lanes, but instead narrows them on Fourth/Lafayette.



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Looking at the First Avenue's new bike lane and 'floating lane' (64 comments)

Protest planned for reconfigured Avenues (153 comments)

Report: More support for protected bike lane on Lafayette Street/Fourth Avenue

Full reveal at 227 E. Seventh St.

[Photo from February by Dave on 7th]

The plywood covering the entrance to the all-new 227 E. Seventh St. came down on Friday...as Dave on 7th discovered...



The classic-brick building here (that people seem to like) just west of Avenue C will feature "classic full floor condominium residences" with either two or three bedrooms. Still waiting for pricing via the 227 teaser site.

For now, let's just admire the front door and window.




[Photo by EVG reader Greg]

Also, the rusty look is apparently in on East 7th Street, as Dave on 7th notes...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Asbestos abatement on East Seventh Street, then a new 6-story building

New building at 227 E. Seventh St. — revealed

Looking at the future luxurious corners of Lafayette Street

[February 2009]

The west side of Lafayette between Great Jones and Bond will soon be home to two luxury residential buildings… The former tenants of these corners, the ZP Auto Repair Shop and a parking lot, are long gone.

First, allow us a moment of silence for the wall above this space that brought us Harrison Ford's giant head …



… and Claire Forlani's disembodied scotch ad hands…

[Head bowed]

Anyway!

The new buildings are apparently going up simultaneously … already up to the second level in spots… (these photos are from Saturday)…



There is 372 Lafayette St. …





… and 10 Bond St.





The first units in No. 10 hit the market earlier in the month … Curbed pointed out a 2,775-square-foot home for $6.9 million … and for the more budget-minded, an 1,866-square-foot residence for $5.3 million.



Previously on EV Grieve:
New skyline for Lafayette Street?

Another corner still primed to fall on NoHo

Demolition starts on former garage and lot; new developments coming for Lafayette Street

Week in Grieview

Fuck, Kim's Video & Music is closing (Monday)

Details on the 2 new residential buildings coming to East 14th Street (Thursday)

RIP Derek Lloyd, director of production at PS 122 (Friday)

The Christodora House gym and pool for sale (Wednesday)

Life in a building undergoing another round of gut renovations (Tuesday)

More photos of the hawk eggs (Monday)

Avenue C "residents with children" not happy with Babel Lounge (Monday, 37 comments)

Out and About with Bill Gerstel (Wednesday)

A new Nicky's at the old Nicky's (Tuesday)

Cocktail maven vying for former Exchange Alley space (Wednesday)

2 new real-estate offices for East Ninth Street (Monday)

Bar Veloce hostage drama from 2002 dramatized for cable (Wednesday)

Virage is now Bar Virage (Thursday)

Brick Lane Curry is finally relocating (Tuesday)

A peek inside the former 7A (Friday)

"Farm-to-table-Mexican" for the former Boukiés space (Monday)

A smaller sidewalk cafe for The Fourth (Thursday)

The Sunburnt Cow closes for good (Friday)

Need plants?

As the sign says... today from 10 am.-1 p.m. at El Sol Brilliante, 522-528 E. 12th St., between Avenues A and B.

The 'Wall Dogs' of New York City

Not East Village related... but interesting nonetheless... here's a 4-minute documentary from Vocativ about the painters who make those hand-painted ads on the sides of NYC buildings.

Check out the recently released "Don't Look Down" right here ...



H/T Laughing Squid

A symbol of beauty, promise .. and the Con Ed plant

The faintest of double rainbows this afternoon … over (sorta) the Con Ed plant …

Photo via EVG reader Emily…

And here's another angle via Zero Boy ...

Another drone landing today in Tompkins Square Park

Felton Davis reports that the MQ-9 Reaper was a big hit in Tompkins Square yesterday, and will be "landing" again today at noon.



There were also leaflets titled "Stop the Madness of Drone Warfare," which include a survivor's account of a drone attack on a wedding party in Yemen last December.

Felton also notes that the Hellfire missiles were pointed AWAY from the church of Saint Brigid-Saint Emeric.

Photos by Shane Knight

Debbie Harry, Rosario Dawson and other 'Heroines of the Lower East Side'

Work continues on Centre-fuge Cycle 13, the rotating outdoor gallery/construction trailer here along East First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Unlike previous cycles, No. 13 is a solo effort by Lexi Bella … in a collection titled "Heroines of the Lower East Side" to coincide with the first Lower East Side History Month, which kicks off on Thursday (BoweryBoogie first reported on this back on April 18).

There are some familiar faces so far …





… and LaMama founder Ellen Stewart …



The murals should be completed by Thursday.

Find more info about Centre-fuge here.

--

And sort of an accidental shot…

Welcome to the East Village — home of beer

We've been watching the ad mural for Modelo come to life on East 12th Street at Avenue A … (former home of the "Girls" mural).

Last Saturday!



A few days later!


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Today!



Not sure who these folks are in the ad… People who some ad executives think live here … people who some ad executives want to drink Modelo… people who are just random people on a mural…

Lighting 'Flesh and Bone'

A scene last night from East 10th Street and First Avenue … where filming for a new series called "Flesh and Bone" took place…

Photo by S. Varet.

Get your Load on again today

From the EVG inbox...

Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) hosts its eighth Load OUT! — a twice yearly "riot" of repurposing and recycling activities today. FABnyc will gather gently used materials from arts organizations and other donors throughout the East Village/Lower East Side for this one-of-a-kind extravaganza, taking place at 11 E. 3rd St. (between Second Avenue and the Bowery) from 12-3 PM.

Load OUT! is specially designed to showcase creative thinking about sustainability and the arts. Artists and art students are welcome to take home any costumes, props, and furniture they need for their artistic endeavors, free of charge. Community members and non-artists can also attend Load OUT! for a small entrance fee of $5, and take away any amount of materials free of charge. Everything remaining will be repurposed or recycled responsibly by GrowNYC, Wearable Collections, Lower East Side Ecology Center, and United War Veterans Recycling. Any unrecyclable items will be properly disposed of by the NYC Department of Sanitation.

Load OUT! also features clothing, textile, and e-waste community collections - open and free for everyone from 12-3PM. Lower East Side Ecology Center will collect e-waste, and GrowNYC will collect clothing and textiles. A list of accepted donations is available here.

So sad about us

Here's EMA, aka Erika M. Anderson, with "Marked" from her 2011 release "Past Life Martyred Saints." She has a new record out on Matador ... and is playing the Mercury Lounge tonight (sold out, though).

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo by Grant Shaffer]

Recommended! Last weekend to go see the excellent Charles Schick and Regina Bartkoff in "The Two-Character Play" at Bullet Space (292 Theatre)

Venerating Pope John Paul II's blood at St. Stanislaus on East 7th Street (The Daily News)

A look inside Huertas, the new Spanish restaurant on First Avenue (Eater)

East Side Stories — The 2014 East Village Theater Festival continues through May 4 (Metropolitan Playhouse)

Re-doing a former "man cave" on East 11th Street (New York Post)

Video of Delancey Street in the 1970s (BoweryBoogie)

The libraries of the East Village and Greenwich Village (Off the Grid)

City pays $55,000 to OWS protester injured by NYPD (Gothamist)

Paperwork filed for 68-floor tower at the former Pathmark site on the LES (The Lo-Down)

A look at the disappearing Iron Triangle at Willets Point (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

EVG regular Blue Glass notes how lovely the pear trees are around the neighborhood this spring...



And we want to see "Famous Nathan," the documentary about Nathan's Famous hot dog empire ...



Amusing the Zillion has more about the film here.

RIP Derek Lloyd

[Image via PS 122]

Derek Lloyd, a popular figure in the local theater community, died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack. He was 45.

Officials at PS 122, where he worked as director of production, released the following statement last evening:

There are those in theater who are content to make things possible. Derek made them better.

Thousands of artists, and tens of thousands of audience – whether they knew it or not – benefited from the passion, love and care with which he approached getting live performance on stage. This was matched only by the passion for his wife, Mary Rose-Lloyd, his family, his cats, his cooking and the Mets.

He was a mentor and teacher to hundreds of young technicians and artists, a designer, a sparkie wrench head techie of the highest order. Derek raised the bar of what PS122 could do for its artists, and enabled them to create stronger, better work. He pushed us all to be better and to do better. With little equipment and very modest infrastructure he made PS122 somewhere people wanted to work, wanted to create. He said yes to impossible dreams.

Performance Space 122′s current transformative renovation would quite simply not be happening without him. Derek spent the last seven years dreaming of what could be in these new spaces, and was a passionate advocate for the possibilities they offered.

Derek was a true, loyal friend to many. A big, gruff hugger who unashamedly teared up when he saw injustice. Not all will understand this but as we say – he had a heart as big as Phar Lap’s.

We will miss him, and are poorer for his loss.

Here is his official bio at PS 122's website:

Derek is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. After 10 years of working with some of Australia’s best experimental theater and dance companies he began touring Australia, China and New York. Shortly after re-locating to the US, he took a position as a technician at Performance Space 122 in 2000, eventually becoming its Director of Production ... Derek has had the great honor of working with the exciting and challenging artists that PS 122 presents, and looks forward to taking PS 122 into the future.

Memorial services are pending. However, there is an informal gathering of friends Sunday from 7:30 pm on. Friends are meeting at Dixon Place for the announcement of the Tom Murrin Performance Award (a friend and colleague to Derek) and proceed from there up First Avenue to the East Village. Follow Little PS’er Nyc on Facebook or @PS122 on Twitter to meet en route.